Saturday, March 25, 2017

Asia Mega Tour II - Heights, Mountainous and Man made

Amazingly today started as a nice day. It's the first time we've seen blue sky since we've been in Taiwan (though thankfully it hasn't rained even though it was predicted to). We decided to put two major attractions on our list for today. They were visiting the Maokong region and the Taiwan 101.

Maokong is a region that is known for tea plantations and the area has become a mecca for tourists and locals who come up to access the hiking trails, the scenery, taste tea, and get out into the countryside. One of the notable things about Taipei is how much nature is close at hand.

To get to Maokong you can take a bus, taxi or drive...BUT the preferred way is the Maokong Gondola. It is a part of the mass transit system and you can use your Easy Card to access it.

As we were taking the Metro to the Gondola and were changing trains I saw this vista which caught my I. It is interesting that the locals were oblivious to it which is how things are everywhere.
The Gondola Experience




This is a design made out of some kind of small windmill devices


Tea Culture
This area is about tea!




Country and City

Temples
HAH! You thought you were going to get away from me without pictures of temples didn't you. 
Listen remember this when we go to Europe next and you have 3,482 consecutive posts about cathedrals. You'll beg, beg for a post on Asian Temples. 
Tianen Temple
This is somewhat unique among the temples we've seen as it is dedicated to the Maitreya Bodhisattva, considered eternally happy




Zhinan Temple
This is dedicated to all three of the major spiritual paths - Buddhist, Tao, Confucian. However it is considered to be most sacred to the Taiwanese Taoist sects.
However
I believe it is really sacred to the Gods of Construction
Please note the Temple of the Holy Scaffolding

And the Temple of Divine Bags of Construction Materials

Other Temple like pictures

Wife protecting herself from a shower of blessings and wishes





Taipei 101
Then it was off to the Taipei 101 building one of the tallest in the world. It used to be tallest until a few years ago and had the fastest elevator too until just a few years ago. That's life in the tall building/fast elevator lane.
Seen from afar


The top seen from the 91st floor outside viewing deck
The building's tuned damper to protect it from typhoon winds and earthquakes
The promo hype is this is the best place for views of the city.
However it was very hazy and grey. I'm posting these shots because they give you an idea of Taipei even though they are questionable photos.



There were a couple of cool buildings you could see from the 101

Yesterday was a zero gastronomically so on to...
...SIGNS OF THE WORLD

Guess how many of these rules Wife and I broke
This sign makes no sense at all. I think it is supposed to be a recreation of the Tower of Babel

6 comments:

Renee Michelle Goertzen said...

I wish I could have asked you to make an offering at the temple of construction- I've been hauling concrete bricks most of the afternoon.

Bernice said...

All I can say is WOW.

alexis said...

where is the tallest building now - China or the Middle East?

de-I said...

Alexis, I believe the tallest building is in the Middle East and the fastest elevator is in Shanghai.

Rob said...

Let me guess, you guys rocked the gondola, right?

de-I said...

Um among other things Rob :(